This Week's SATURDAY SHORTS: A Genre Explosion!

Hello ladies and gentlemen, Muldoon here with this week's selection of badass short films created and submitted by AICN readers just like me and you. If you're in need of some horror, SciFi, animation, etc... you're in luck, I've got you covered. Today's like a lovely condensed film fest with some real treats from some damn talented folks, so be sure to full screen each and every one. As always, feel free to shoot off your thoughts in the TalkBacks below as you never know if the filmmakers are in the audience. I hold our TalkBacks here on SATURDAY SHORTS pretty close to the heart, so to all of you who go out of your way to jot down your thoughts - you rock, keep it up! Let's hop on in.

A VERY HAROLD AND KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS director (and SATURDAY SHORTS alum) Todd Strauss-Schulson kicks us off with 20 minutes of jam packed awesomeness. The guy's got an insane style that screams fun. His newest short, VALIBATION is a tightly bit of chaos that hits all sorts of check boxes: comedy, little horror, great acting... Do yourself a solid and hit play. Be sure to hit up Todd's website and follow him on Twitter (@TheRealTSS) to keep up with what all he's got going on.

Bam! Up next we have a sweet slice of animated greatness from Jaime Gallant with music from Dr. John. "A man drinks a very big glass of water. Then he runs in to some trouble." I know the word "cool" gets tossed around so much, but this short oozes it like crazy. It's a pretty simple and straight forward film, executed incredibly well. Jaime, my man, keep 'em coming!

This next little bit of horrific fun might have you rethinking a few plans the next time you head out to the clubs. Abyssmal's Steven Shea builds a chaotic vibe by consistantly shifting gears with loud/energy/in your face party mode and the lead's current predicament. The pacing works, the camera work is solid, the actress is believeable - what more could I ask for? It's enjoyable (in a sick and twisted way of course). Be sure to hit up the film's website and go like then on Facebook (if that's what you're into). "After an incredible night out with her girlfriends, Vickie Palmer is wrenched from her peaceful slumber and cast mercilessly into a world spinning out of control. Writhing half naked on the cold porcelain tile of her bathrom floor, Vickie desperately tries to piece together the tragic turn of events that has twisted her once carefree life into a nightmare of pain and suffering. But when she discovers the truth, will it be too late to save her from eternal damnation?"

From writer-director Jason Klein we have "The darkly beautiful story of a man determined to complete the construction of a machine that will allow him to live in his favorite memory...forever." It won all sorts of fancy awards and rightfully so. It's solid. (Don't dig Vimeo? Youtube it up, son.) Be sure to check out Jason's site, it's chock full of good stuff.

I'm sure you had a good time with that last one and on that note, let's have another time travel film, because you truly can't have enough time travel films (seriously, it's statistically impossible). That brings us to our last film of the week, Brian O'Neill's love letter to BILL AND TED/BACK TO THE FUTURE/QUANTUM LEAP. "Have you ever imagined that you could go back in time and meet your heroes? Benjamin Hewson has. He has travelled back from the year 2330 to meet his hero, legendary rock god Jonny Murtagh. But in his bid to witness history in the making, has Benjamin put Jonny's future in jeopardy?" Be sure to follow the film on Facebook.

Alas, that time of the the post where I have to peace out. Thanks for reading/watching. I hope you guys and gals got a kick out of these shorts, I clearly did. Thanks to the filmmakers out there who consistantly send me their stuff. Keep them coming folks. I'll see you all next week! Check out some past posts if you're still hungry:

If you have a short and think it belongs here or are on the fence about whether to send it in, please do send it in - I'd love to see what you've put together. I've already seen hundreds of fresh new filmmakers' shorts and like any good addict, I need more!

Shoot me an email at "Mike@aintitcool.com"

In the subject line include:

“SHORTS” + “Your film’s name” + “The film’s genre”

Then, in the body of the email, please include a synopsis of the film and any contact information you might think I need or would want published. The more info you send my way, the more info there is to put with your short.

Please don’t feel the need to submit multiple times.

Remember, the filmmakers might still be in the audience, so feel free to share your thoughts in Talkbacks below. (JUST DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE). I picked them, so you know I think highly of all of these, but how about you fine folks? How'd you like 'em?